Data card connector

ABSTRACT

A data card connector ( 43 ) is disclosed which comprises a housing defining an aperture for receiving a data card with contacts, electrical connectors ( 14 ) for engaging the data card contacts to couple the data card contacts to an electronic device, and a cover ( 12 ) moveable between an open position and a closed position. The data card connector further comprises an indicator ( 19,20 ) for indicating when the cover is in the closed position. When the cover is in this closed position, the contacts of the data card are connected to the electronic device and electric connection between the data card and the electronic device may be affects.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a 371 of PCT/IB99/01766, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a connector for a data card, inparticular to a data card connector for transferring data between acommunication device and a data card.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Data cards take various forms and those used, for example, in cellularphones, may include passive memory cards (i.e., especially a ROM) or anactive processor card. An example of the latter is a smart card, whichincludes a memory as an integrated circuit, commonly referred to as a“chip”, in which information is stored. The smart card may contain asubscriber identity module (SIM). Also, in addition to the subscriberidentity information, such as a subscriber identifying telephone number,and personal identification number (PIN), the smart card may store forexample, call charge information (i.e., a charge meter), a telephonenumber index, or false pin entries.

SIM cards are currently available in two sizes. The functionality of theSIM is the same for each, it is essentially that the physical dimensionsare different. One is a credit card size SIM, and the other is a plug inSIM about 15 mm by 20 mm.

Other active processor cards include expansion cards which typicallyprovide a communication device with additional functions, such as amodem function, or provide a driver for an external device.

Traditional data card holders are placed inside communication deviceslike mobile phones. Usually the battery pack powering the phoneelectronics has to be removed and the SIM card can be inserted by theuser into a SIM card reader compartment which is closed by a cover orany other holding mechanism. After insertion of the card the batterypack is put in place and the users activates the power key of the phone.Now a microprocessor starts reading out information from the SIM cardand asks the user for example for entering his PIN number if thisapplication is activated. After the user has entered the correct PINnumber the phone registers to the cellular network with the phone numberread out from the SIM card and a phone calls can be established.

Other kinds of mobile phones, namely those phones which are mainly usedin cars today and therefore now referred as to car phones, compriseusually a fixed unit installed at any convenient place in the car, e.g.,in the boot and a handset comprising usually a keyboard and a displayfor operating the car phone and a loudspeaker and a microphone forcommunication.

The handset can for example be stored in a handset holder within thearmrest besides the driver or at the dashboard of the car when it is notto be used. The car phone could be further equipped with devices forhandsfree operation of the car phone and handsfree communication.

In early times the car phones usually provided a compartment for the SIMcard in the fixed unit, but as this is fixed, e.g., installed in theboot of the car, it is inconvenient for the user to insert the card. Asan alternative the SIM card compartment could be positioned inside thehandset holder or within the handset itself. In the latter case usuallya credit card sized SIM card is slidably engaged into the card holder ofthe handset.

However, because of the sliding movement of the card relative to thecontacts of the card holder this way, there is a risk that the contacts,possibly even the contact pads on the card, may be damaged.

A variety of patent applications are published (e.g., GB 2 250 846)disclosing data card holders wherein the SIM card is inserted into acard receiving cover which is hingedly mounted on the main body of thecommunication device and on closing the cover the SIM card is pressedinto the holder compartment and thereby the contacts of the SIM card arecoupled to the contacts within the card holder.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,609 to Braun et al. describes a way in which a SIMcard may be shielded during use. This is achieved by using a conductiveSIM card holder, and electrically grounding the conductive holder.

Handheld mobile phones where the battery pack is usually removed beforethe SIM card can be inserted are powered off during this procedure. Carphones with a handset comprising a SIM card reader are not necessarilypowered of as the car phone is connected to the car battery all thetime. This could lead to an undefined condition of the car phoneelectronics, especially while the SIM card is slidably engaged to thecard reader because not all contacts of the SIM card might be coupled tothe SIM card reader contacts during insertion or, even worse, the SIMcard contacts are coupled to the wrong SIM card reader contacts duringinsertion of the SIM card which may also damage the SIM card.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a data card connectorcomprising: a housing defining an aperture for receiving a data card;and electrical connectors for coupling a data card and a cover movablebetween an open position and a closed position, wherein the data cardconnector further comprises an indicator for indicating whether thecover is in the open position or in the closed position.

By this indicator it is secured that the contacts between the data cardand the data card connector are closed before any data contact fromother electronics, e.g., electronics to read out the data card, is madeto the data card before the cover is in the closed position. Furthermorethe power supply for the data card can for example be turned on after itis indicated that the cover is in the closed position. Any damages tothe data card because of unsecure electrical contact to the data cardduring the insertion of the data card is prohibited.

The indicator is preferably a switch. The switch can for example be inthe closed position when the cover is closed or in the opened positionwhen the cover is open.

Preferably the switch comprises electrical contact elements in the coverand the aperture for receiving the data card. When the cover is openedthe contacts in the aperture and in the cover are not connected witheach other and the switch is open. After the cover is closed thecontacts have contact with each other and the switch is closed andindicated the cover closed position.

The construction of the switch preferably comprises a contact plate atthe inner surface which is directed towards the aperture and theaperture comprises two contact springs directed towards the cover andwhen the cover is in the closed position the contact plate connects thecontact springs for indicating the cover closed position.

Further the indicator indicates the cover position to a control unit andthe control unit establishes a data connection to the electricalconnectors upon cover-closed indication. This control unit could be amicroprocessor that reads out a subscriber identifying telephone numberand/or the personal identification number (PIN).

The data connection between the data card and the control unit isestablished when the data card is inserted and the cover-closed positionis indicated.

Furthermore the control unit generates a data-card-missing signal afterthe data connection to the electrical connectors is established and nodata card is inserted and the cover-closed position is indicated.

The cover of the data card is preferably slidably engageable with thehousing to close off the aperture.

According to an embodiment of the invention the cover applies a force tothe data card which presses the data card into the aperture and this waythe data card contacts against the electrical connectors during thesliding engagement from the cover open to the cover closed position.

Preferably the cover comprises at least one guiding rail applying theforce for pressing down the data card.

The longitudinal movement of the data card is limited by stops when thecover is sliding from the cover open position to the cover closedposition and when the cover is in the closed position.

Preferably the data card contacts are coupled to the electricalconnectors during the sliding engagement from the cover open to theclosed position before the indication means indicate the cover closedposition.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided aninterface for a communication device comprising a data card connectorfor the transfer of data between the card and the device.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provideda communication device comprising such an interface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention are shown by way of example in theaccompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of a handset belonging to acommunication device comprising a data card connector according to anembodiment of the invention

FIG. 2 shows a back perspective view of the handset of FIG. 1 with theinventive data card connector with the cover in a closed position

FIG. 3 shows the back view of the handset with the data card connectorwith the cover in the opened position

FIG. 4 shows a plug-in SIM card

FIGS. 5a-5 e show detailed and enlarged perspective views of the back ofthe handset with the cover of the data card connector in differentpositions

FIGS. 6a-6 d show section views along line A—A of the handset with thecover in different positions

FIGS. 7a and 7 b show section view along line B—B of the handset withthe cover in an opened and in a closed position

FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of the communication device with aschematic view of the data card connector according to the invention

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a handset 1 of a communication device, like a cartelephone, with a front cover 2, a back cover 3, a display 4, on/off key5, a field with three control keys 6 and a numerical keypad 7. Thehandset is connected to the other electronic parts of a mobile telephonesuch as is shown in FIG. 8.

The backside of the handset 1 of FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3,and in more detail in FIGS. 5a to 5 e.

FIG. 2 shows the backside of the handset with the data card connector 43in a closed position, i.e., the cover 12 of the data card connector 43is closed. Furthermore openings 9 for a loudspeaker, an opening for amicrophone 10 and notches 11 for holding the telephone in a holdingmechanism are illustrated.

The cover 12 of the data card connector 43 is opened by sliding thecover 12 into the direction of the arrow 12 a which is printed on thecover. The sliding is simplified for the user by the grip lines 12 b onthe cover 12. The handset 1 with the cover 12 in the closed position isshown in FIG. 2. Within the data card connector 43 a contact field 14with six electrical contacts 13 and a hole 18 for connecting the frontcover 2 and the back cover 3 with a screw is illustrated.

FIG. 4 illustrates a Plug-In SIM card 15 as it can be inserted into theaperture of the data card connector 43 of the handset 1. The SIM card 5comprises a contact field 16 with six electrical contacts 17. Within theSIM card 15 a microprocessor unit and a memory is integrated whichcontains for example user identification information and phone bookentries. The contents of the memory can be read out by the phoneelectronics when the SIM card 15 is inserted into the data cardconnector 43 of the handset. In order to take care that the user alwaysputs the SIM card 15 into the data card connector 43 in the rightorientation, the SIM card 15 comprises an edge 31 which fits with theedge 30 within the data card connector 43.

FIGS. 5a-5 e show the backside of the handset 1 in an enlarged viewcompared to FIGS. 2 and 3. In FIG. 5a, the data card connector 43 cover12 is in the closed position as in FIG. 2. The lines A—A and B—B referto the section views of FIG. 6 (A—A) and FIG. 7 (B—B).

FIG. 5b shows the data card connector 43 in the opened position with aninserted SIM card 15. The SIM card is lifted up by the electricalcontacts 13 by a few millimeters and can be easily removed by the user.A detailed perspective view of the opened data card connector 43 withthe SIM card 15 removed is shown in FIG. 5c.

In FIG. 5d, the cover 12 of the data card connector 43 is removed fromthe handset 1 and the backside of the cover is shown. During normaloperation the removal of the cover 12 is prevented by catches 23 a and23 b. During normal operation, i.e., the cover 12 is slid between itsopened and closed position, the catches 23 a, 24 a and 24 b are shiftedwithin the notches 22. In the cover-closed position the catches 24 bkeep the cover in the closed position in conjunction with notch 23 b.When the cover is in the opened position, the notches 23 a and 24 b keepthe cover in the opened position and avoid that the cover can be removedtotally from the handset.

FIG. 5d further illustrates stops 26 for the SIM card 15. The stops 26mark the right end position when the SIM card 15 is inserted.

When the cover is in the closed position, the stop 25 is pressed againstthe right side of the catches 23 b. The cover comprises two leads 32 atits right and left end, which slide in the guides 33 of the back cover 3of the handset 1.

Two guides 21, placed at the inner side of the cover 12 press down theplugin SIM Card 15 against the SIM card reader contacts 14 when a SIMcard 15 is inserted and the cover 12 is in the closed position.

As it can be seen in FIG. 5c in connection with FIG. 5d and 5 a, aswitch, consisting of the two electrical contacts 19 and a metal plate20 is below cover 12 when the cover 12 is in the closed position. Whenthe cover 12 is in the open position, the metal plate 20 is not incontact with the two electrical contacts 19. When the cover is in theclosed position, the metal plate 20 connects the electrical contacts 19with each other and this way the switch is closed.

This function is better explained with reference to the drawings ofFIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 5e presents a slightly different construction of the data cardconnector 43 as it is presented in FIG. 5b. In addition to theconstruction presented in the FIGS. 5a to 5 d, the connector 43comprises an elastic plastic part 36 with a projection 35 at the leftend. The projection 35 presses down an inserted Plug-in S1M card whenthe cover 12 is in the opened position. The SIM card 15 can only betaken out from the connector 43 when the user shifts the elastic plasticpart 36 together with the projection 35 into the direction of the arrow.This way the SIM card 15 is released and can be removed. After the SIMcard is removed the elastic part 36 moves back into its initial state.

For inserting a SIM card 15, the card is simply pressed down and theprojection 35 moves automatically into the direction of the arrow andgives the way free for the SIM card 15. When the SIM card 15 is in thefinal position the projection 35 keeps the card in this position.

The FIGS. 6a to 6 d give a detailed overview about the function of thedata card connector 43 during the insertion of a SIM card into the datacard connector 43.

FIG. 6a shows a cross section view (A—A) of FIG. 5a of the handset 1.The cover 12 is in the open position and no SIM card is inserted intothe data card connector 43.

FIG. 6b shows the first step of the insertion of a SIM card 15. The userfirst presses the card with the right side against the stops 26 with aforce in the direction of arrow (a). In the next step the user shiftsthe cover 12 into direction (b). This way the SIM card 15 is presseddown onto the SIM card reader contacts 14 by the guides 21 as shown inFIG. 6c. In FIG. 6c the cover 12 is half way closed and the SIM card 15is pressed onto the contacts 14. The electrical contacts 19 are notconnected with the metal plate 20 at this stage.

In FIG. 6d, the cover is in the closed position and the contacts 19 areconnected with the metal plate 20, this way the switch comprising thecontacts 19 and the metal plate 20 is closed. It is indicated that thecover is in the closed position and the SIM card 15 is in contact withthe SIM card reader contacts 14. The stop 25 prevents that the cover 12can be shifted further to the left by the user.

FIGS. 7a and 7 b show a second section view (B—B) of the data cardconnector 43. In FIG. 7a, the data card connector 43 is in the openedposition. The cover 12 with the guides 21 and leads 33, which is in thebackground at this stage, is drawn with dashed lines. In addition toFIG. 6a, printed circuit board 27 is shown where the SIM card readercontacts 14 are placed on.

In FIG. 7b, a SIM card 15 is inserted into the data card connector 43and the cover 12 is in the closed position. The electrical contacts 14are in contact with the contact fields 17 of the SIM card 15 and theelectrical contacts 19 are connected through metal plate 20.

FIG. 8 finally shows the electrical function of the data card connector43 working together with the phone electronics 34′. As shown in FIG. 1,the handset 1 is connected with the phone electronics by a connector 8.The phone electronics 34 basically comprise a control unit 36, whichcould be a microprocessor for example, connected with a memory 37, e.g.,a RAM and/or ROM. To facilitate the radio frequency connection to acellular telephone network, a radio frequency transceiver 38 is usedtogether with an external antenna 39, which can be, placed somewhereoutside the car when the phone is used in a car. A battery 35, e.g., thecar battery, powers the electronics. The phone electronics 34 furthercomprise an audio driver 40, a display driver 41 and a keyboard driver42 for exchanging signals with the handset 1 through connector 8. Theconnection to the handset 1 to the phone electronics is known to aperson skilled in the art and therefore not further illustrated in FIG.8.

The basic elements of the data card connector 43 illustrated in FIG. 8are the SIM card contact field 13 comprising the SIM card contacts 14and the switch 44 comprising the contacts 19 and the metal plate 20. TheSIM card contact field 13 is connected to the control unit 36 by thedata bus 28 and the switch 44 is connected to the control unit 36 by thelines 29. The data bus 28 and the lines 29 are part of the connector &between handset 1 and phone electronics 34 which is schematicallyillustrated with a dashed oval.

When the cover 12 of the data card connector 43 is closed the switch 44is also closed and this state is indicated to the microprocessor 36. Themicroprocessor now starts to read out the SIM Card 15, which is nowconnected with the SIM contact field 13. For reading out the SIM card15, it is necessary first to supply a voltage to the electrical contactswhich is used for powering the electronic parts within the SIM card 15.This is done by the microprocessor after it has received the signal fromswitch 44 that the cover is closed.

When the cover 12 is closed but no SIM card 15 is inserted, themicroprocessor also powers one of the SIM card reader contacts and triesto read out the SIM card contents but notices immediately that no cardis inserted. At this stage the microprocessor might initiate a messageto the user through display driver 41 and display 4 that a SIM card ismissing and should be inserted into the handset before the communicationdevice can be used.

This way it is also prevented that any of the SIM card contacts 14 ispowered before the cover 12 is in the closed position irrespective if aSIM card is inserted or not. Therefore, any metal parts causing a shortcircuit between the SIM card contacts when the cover 12 is in the openedposition can not damage the communication device. Furthermore the SIMcard 15 can not be damaged electronically by any wrong insertion orduring the closing procedure because the final electrical contact to thepower supply and to the microprocessor is not established until theswitch 44 is closed.

In view of the foregoing description, it would be evident to a personskilled in the art that various modifications may be made within thescope of the invention. For example, the data card connector could be apart of any other construction of a communication device, for example ahandheld cellular mobile phone. Furthermore, the cover 12 of the datacard connector 43 could be pivotally linked to the housing of thetelephone.

What is claimed is:
 1. A data card connector comprising: a housingincluding an aperture which receives a data card with contacts;electrical connectors within the aperture and which engage the data cardcontacts to couple the data card contacts to an electronic device; amovable cover which moves from an open position to a closed position tocover the aperture; and an indicator which indicates when the cover isin the closed position and in response to the indicator indicating thecover is closed, the data card contacts are electrically connected to asource of electrical power and to the electronic device.
 2. A data cardconnector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indicator is a switch.
 3. Adata card connector as claimed in claim 2 wherein the switch compriseselectrical contact elements in the cover and the aperture and theelectrical contact elements contact when the cover is closed.
 4. A datacard connector as claimed in claim 1, comprising a controller forcontrolling the electrical connection in response to an output of theindicator.
 5. A data card connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein thecontroller controls the connection of the source of electrical power tothe data card and the electronic device when the indicator indicates thecover is closed.
 6. A data card connector as claimed in claim 4, whereinthe controller controls the transfer of data between the data card andthe electronic device when the data card is present and the cover isclosed.
 7. A data card connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the coveris slidably engageable with the housing to close off the aperture.
 8. Adata card connector according to claim 3 wherein the cover comprises acontact plate at an inner surface thereof which is directed towards theaperture and the aperture comprises two contact springs directed towardsthe cover and when the cover is in the closed position the contact plateconnects the contact springs for indicating the cover closed position.9. A data card connector as claimed in claim 7 wherein the cover appliesa force to the data card to move the data card into the aperture suchthat the data card contacts contact the electrical connectors when thecover reaches the cover closed position.
 10. A data card connector asclaimed in claim 9 wherein the cover comprises at least one guiding railapplying the force for pressing the data card contacts towards theelectrical connectors.
 11. A data card connector as claimed in claim 9comprising a stop for limiting longitudinal movement of the data cardwhen the cover is sliding from the cover open position to the closedposition and when the cover is in the closed position.
 12. A data cardconnector as claimed in claim 9, wherein the data card contacts arecoupled to the electrical connectors during sliding engagement from thecover open to the closed position before the indicator indicates theclosed position.
 13. An interface for a communication device comprisinga data card connector as claimed in claim 1 for the transfer of databetween the card and the device.
 14. A communication device comprisingan interface as claimed in claim
 13. 15. A data card connector asclaimed in claim 2, comprising a controller for controlling theelectrical connection in response to an output of the indicator.
 16. Adata card connector as claimed in claim 3, comprising a controller forthe controlling electrical connection in response to an output of theindicator.
 17. A data card connector as claimed in claim 15, wherein thecontroller controls the connection of the source of electrical power tothe data card and the electronic device when the indicator indicates thecover is closed.
 18. A data card connector as claimed in claim 16,wherein the controller controls the connection of the source ofelectrical power to the data card and the electronic device when theindicator indicates the cover is closed.
 19. A data card connector asclaimed in claim 4, wherein the controller controls the connection ofpower to the data card when the indicator indicates the cover is closed.20. A data card connector as claimed in claim 2 wherein the cover isslidably engageable with the housing to close off the aperture.
 21. Adata card connector as claimed in claim 3 wherein the cover is slidablyengageable with the housing to close off the aperture.
 22. A data cardconnector as claimed in claim 4 wherein the cover is slidably engageablewith the housing to close off the aperture.
 23. A data card connector asclaimed in claim 5 wherein the cover is slidably engageable with thehousing to close off the aperture.
 24. A data card connector as claimedin claim 6 wherein the cover is slidably engageable with the housing toclose off the aperture.
 25. A data card connector as claimed in claim 15wherein the cover is slidably engageable with the housing to close offthe aperture.
 26. A data card connector as claimed in claim 16 whereinthe cover is slidably engageable with the housing to close off theaperture.
 27. A data card connector as claimed in claim 17 wherein thecover is slidably engageable with the housing to close off the aperture.28. A data card connector according to claim 3 wherein the covercomprises a contact plate at an inner surface thereof which is directedtowards the aperture and the aperture comprises two contact springsdirected towards the cover and when the cover is in the closed positionthe contact plate connects the contact springs for indicating the coverclosed position.
 29. A data card connector according to claim 4 whereinthe cover comprises a contact plate at an inner surface thereof which isdirected towards the aperture and the aperture comprises two contactsprings directed towards the cover and when the cover is in the closedposition the contact plate connects the contact springs for indicatingthe cover closed position.
 30. A data card connector according to claim5 wherein the cover comprises a contact plate at an inner surfacethereof which is directed towards the aperture and the aperturecomprises two contact springs directed towards the cover and when thecover is in the closed position the contact plate connects the contactsprings for indicating the cover closed position.
 31. A data cardconnector according to claim 6 wherein the cover comprises a contactplate at an inner surface thereof which is directed towards the apertureand the aperture comprises two contact springs directed towards thecover and when the cover is in the closed position the contact plateconnects the contact springs for indicating the cover closed position.32. A data card connector according to claim 7 wherein the covercomprises a contact plate at an inner surface thereof which is directedtowards the aperture and the aperture comprises two contact springsdirected towards the cover and when the cover is in the closed positionthe contact plate connects the contact springs for indicating the coverclosed position.
 33. A data card connector as claimed in claim 10comprising a stop for limiting the longitudinal movement of the datacard when the cover is sliding from the cover open position to the coverclosed position and when the cover is in the closed position.
 34. A datacard connector as claimed in claim 10, wherein the data card contactsare coupled to the electrical connectors during the sliding engagementfrom the cover open to the closed position before the indication meansindicate the cover closed position.
 35. A data card connector as claimedin claim 10, wherein the data card contacts are coupled to theelectrical connectors during the sliding engagement from the cover opento the closed position before the indication means indicate the coverclosed position.
 36. A data card connector comprising: a source ofelectrical power; a housing including an aperture which receives a datacard with contacts; electrical connectors within the aperture and whichengage the data card contacts to electrically couple the data cardcontacts to a device; a movable cover which moves from an open positionat which the cover may be removed to a closed position to cover theaperture; and a sensor, associated with the removable cover and theaperture, which in response to the removable cover being in the closedposition, controls a state of connection of the source of electricalpower to the data card.
 37. A data card connector in accordance withclaim 36 wherein: the state of connection completes a circuit in whichcurrent flows between the data card contacts and the device.
 38. A datacard connector in accordance with claim 36 wherein: the sensor is aswitch.